Checker construction



Nov. 12, 1940. TAU 2,221,416

CHECKER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 1,939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BfuceE. 722a B. E. TAU

CHECKER CONSTRUCTION Nov. 12, 1940.

Filed April 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I b I A Sad 14 NOV. 12, 1940. T U 2,221,416

CHECKER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1939 3 Sheets-$heet 3 INVENTOR. BruceEJu y aim/4 4 J Patented Nov. 12, 1940 PATENT OFFICE.

GHECKER CONSTRUCTION Bruce E.- Tau, Chicago, 11]., a ssignor to Fre'yn' Engineering Company, Chicago, Ill.,-a, corporation of Maine Application April 3, 1939, Serial No. 265,708

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in checker construction.

More particularly the present invention relates to improvements in checkers and checker assemblies such as are used in blast furnace stoves, regenerators, and the like, wherein refractory members are subjected to the heat from gases which have been given off in industrial processes and are thereafter subjected to contact with air to be heated.

Checkerwork of the kind referred to is subjected to severe punishment in commercial service, is subject to shift, and also subject to clogging up in service.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved checker which is cheap to manufacture and eflicient inservice.

A further object isto provide an improved checker which is simple in construction and well adapted to minimize the shift above referred to. A further object is to provide a checker of simple construction which will be eflicientinsofar as surface area and bulk are concerned and which will minimize the danger of clogging.

A further object is to provide an improved checker assembly which will cause such turbulence in the flow of gas or air as to improve the efliciency'of heat transfer between the checker assembly and such gas or air.

A further object is to provide an improved checker assembly having alternately arranged heat transfer passages and mixing chambers whereby the efficiency of heat transfer will be improved.

A further object is to provide a checker assembly having a plurality of passageways for gas or air together with novelmeans for providing communication between adjacent passageways.

A further object is to provide an improved checker and checker assembly well adapted to meet the needs of commercial service.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a checker embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a checker having a slightly different arrangement of passageways therethrough;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the checker illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the checker illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a front view of the checker shown 58 m Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showi ing portions of three superimposed ,courses of checkers according to the present invention, the sectional view of Figure 9 being taken along the planes indicated by the arrows 99 of Figure 10; v a

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view-in section taken along the planes indicated by the arrows Ill-l0 of Figure 9;.and

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate modified forms of checkers.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, a checkerbrick is illustrated which for the purpose of thisdescription may be referred to as a cubical checker, though as the description proceeds it will be clear that said checker isnot a cube and need not necessarily have overall rightangular dimensions approaching equality with one another.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 7, the numeral indicates a checker embodying the principles of the present invention. The numeral 2! indicates a plane bounding one face of the checker 2B,,and the numeral 22 indicates a plane which may be said to mark the opposite side of the body portionof said checker 20. As indicated in Figures 3 and 6, said body portion is generally rectangular in contour. However, the diagonally opposed corners are recessed as indicated by the numerals 23-431 Projecting from one side of the body portion of the checker 20 is the square extension or boss 24, which is symmetrically disposed with respect to the rectangle which in general represents the contour of a plan section of said body portion. The body portion of the checker 20. in all four ofits sides, is provided with diagonal notches, of which the notches 25+25 communicate with that. face of the body portion of the checker 2B which is bounded by the plane 2| and of which the notches 26-26 communicate with that face of the body portion of the checker 20 which is bounded by the plane 22. Said notches 25 and 26 are medially disposed with respect to the edges of the body portionof the checker 20. According to the construction illustrated in Figures 2 to '7, inclusive, the checker 20 is providedwith In a regenerator, a plurality of the checkers 20-20 are fitted together in a horizontal course,

as illustrated in Figure 8. Figure 8 shows only one course of checkers 20-20, but according to the present invention a plurality of courses of the checkers 20-20 will be provided in a manner to be described presently. Figure 8 shows a plurality of courses of standard checkerbricks 29-29 fitted together in basketweave fashion; superimposed upon a course of the cubical checkers 20-20.. As illustrated in Figure 8, the cubical checkers 20-20, when fitted together, provide cubical. spaces -30 between said cubical checkers 20-20, whichspaces have horizontal dimensions corresponding approximately to the bosses 24-24, which extend downwardly from the. bottomsof the checkers 20-20.

The checkers 20-20 of each course are so nested with respect to the checkers of the next adjacent course that they form a plurality of columns of alternate checkers 20-20 an'dopen cubical spaces 30-30. The courses are so held that each checker 20 reposes exactly above 'a corresponding cubical space 30 of the course below, the downwardly extending boss. 24 of each cubical checker 20 extending into the cubical space 30 of the course next below, thereby forming an efiective interlock .in a, horizontal direc- The arrangement of the courses of the cubical checkers 20-20 isa illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, wherein. the downwardly extending bosses 24-24 of the cubical checkers 20-20 extend into the,,cubical spaces 30 of the courses next below.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate-modifications of the checkers 2 0-20. In Figure ,11 .a number of checkers 20a-20a are. illustrated, each having two. adjacent vertical edges 3l-3l recessed, the othertwo vertical edgesbeing unrecessed. Said checkers 204l-20a are provided with notches 320i, slightly different form from. the notches 2525 'and 26-26 discussed above in connection withthe preceding figures. Notches 32-32 are not disposed midway of the length of their corresponding. edges, it being within thesco-pe of the present invention to dispose said notches other than midway of their corresponding edges,

If preferred, only one horizontal edge of the Each of the corner constructions of the checkbody portion of the checker need be notched. Figure, 12 discloses checkers 2017-2011, having the :cornenedges beveledoff as indicated by the numerals 33-33.

the corresponding vertical faces of the bosses 25.. It will be understood also that notches.

25-25, 26-26 or 32-32 may be provided in only the upper or only the lower edge of the body portion of a checker.

A furthervariation is possible through control of the dimensions of the bosses or extensions 24 which extend from the checkers 20-20. Ordinarily the sum. of the peripheries of the plurality of holes 21in any one checker is greater than the periphery of the boss 24, and accordingly if these bosses areshort, the result is to decrease the heating surface in a group of checkers with some decrease of volume of refractory. Conversely, if the bosses or extensions 24 are increased, there is a gain in weight of refractory material with a slight increase in heating surface presented. The limits to the length of the bosses Mare determined by cost (since checkers with long bosses cost more); by the balance between the advantage of a considerable plenum space (to be discussed later) embodied in each space 30 and the advantage of increased heating surface in the holes 21; and by struc-v tural difliculties in providing adequate passageways through thejjnotches 25-25,] 26-26 or 32-32. It mayibepreferred in some instances to use checkers with short bosses 24-24 in'the lower part of the. regenerator structure, and checkers with 1ongerbosses'or extensions inthe upper part of the regenerator structure, thereby controlling the ratio of checker weight perunit 30-30, formed by the exposed outer surfaces of the checkers. As indicatedhereinabove, the regenerator assembly. may include lower courses ofcheckers having a plurality of passages and upper w courses having a single passage. The cubical chambers between the courses'then serve for transition from'the plural passage checkers to the single passage checkers.

The normal flow of air or gas is vertical, through the cylindrical .passages in the checkers.

and through'the cubical chambers 30-30, This arrangement is of considerable advantage because of the factthat when a fluid flows through a passage the leading portion of the passage,

is most effective inheat transfer because the fluid column is of uniform temperature upon enteringjthe passage and the outer'layers of the fiuid column therefore convey heat. to or from the checkers effectively; After the fluid has advanced in its flow through an elongated passage, a temperature difference is establishedbetween the outer layers and the inner layers of the fluid column, and the heat transfer between the outer layer and the bounding surfaces is diminished. It is a well known fact that in long tubular passagesheattransfer is .poorer in the trailing portions of the passage than in the leading portions of the passage. This condition is continuously corrected, according to the present invention, by reason of the fact that the gas or. air

stream flows through the cylindrical'passages in the checkers and then through the cubical:

chambers 30-30. Each of these cubical chambers 30 has suflicient volume as a plenum space to permit the gas to be rearranged or turned inside out before the gas enters the cylindrical passages in the next succeeding checker. For these reasons, heat transfer in the cylindrical passages in the checkers is: greater than would be the case if substantially continuous cylindrical passages were provided.

The diagonal ports formed by the notches 24-24, 25-25 or 32-32 serve a triple purpose. First, they permit pressure equalization between the cubical chambers 30-30, thereby permitting a diagonal sidewise flow of gas or air through the checker assembly. Such sidewise flow is beneficial in establishing and maintaining substantially equal distribution of the gas or air stream over the entire sectional area of the assembly. Second, the flow of gas through the diagonal ports which will result because these ports are in parallel with the cylindrical passages 21-27 tends to cause turbulence in the cubical chambers 30-30. This turbulence assists in turning over the gas or air in these chambers. This influences beneficially the characteristic described in the preceding paragraph. It also tends to cause the heating surfaces exposed in the cubical chambers30-30 to be effective. It also tends to keep in suspension dust particles which might otherwise have a tendency to accumulate on the upper surfaces of the checkers. If thedust particles are kept in suspension they will flow through the regenerator structure. Third, in the event that any of the cylindrical passages in the checkers become clogged, the diagonal ports serve as effective by-passes to cause the gas or air to be redistributed around the clogged portions and distributed to the unclogged passages both above and below the clogged region. i

As above described, the upper portion of the regenerator structure may employ standard bricks which are regular parallelopipeds arranged in basketweave form. These basket- Weave checkers of standard bricks in the upper portion of the regenerator structure may supplant the single-hole checkers illustrated in Figure 1. The design of the four-hole checkers and of the one-hole checkers is such that checkerbrick of standard dimensions can be superimposed in a basketweave arrangement on the checkers, the openings in the basketweave structure registering with the cylindrical passages and with the cubical chambers in the topmost course of cubical checkers. This arrangement has the advantage that it permits the cheapest form of brick to be used in the topmost portion of the regenerator structure, where depreciation is most rapid and where replacement of refractories is most frequently necessary. It has the further advantage in the matter of first cost. It has the further advantage that the area for gas or air passage will be greater in the upper portion of the regenerator structure where the entering gases or exit air have relatively great volume.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is- 1. A checker having a body portion having a general shape of a parallelopiped but with two edge portions recessed along reentrant angles, said body portion having protuberance means extending therefrom, the dimensions across said protuberance means being approximately the same as the corresponding dimensions between the corner lines of said recessed edge portions of said" body portion, said checker being apertured in a direction parallel with said recessed edge portions.

2. A checker having a body portion having a general shape of a parallelopiped but with two diagonally opposed edge portions recessed, said body portion having protuberance means extending therefrom, the diagonal dimensions across said protuberance means in the plane of the apices of said recessed portions being approximately the same as the diagonal dimensions between the recessed edge portions of said body portion, said checker being apertured in a direction parallel with said recessed edge portions, said body portion having'certain of its edges normal to said recessed edge portions notched.

3. In a checker assembly, a plurality of checkers in courses, each comprising a body member in the general shape of a parallelopiped but having reentrant right-angular recesses along certain edge portions, said checkers being apertured in a direction parallel with said rightangular recesses and each having an extension projecting from a face normal to said rightangular recesses, said checkers being nested together with unrecessed edges of said checkers fitting within the recessed edges of adjacent checkers, the extensions of one course of said checkers fitting within the spaces between checkers of the adjacent course of said checkers.

4. In a checker assembly, a plurality of checkers in courses, each comprising a body member in the general shape of a parallelopiped but having reentrant right-angular recesses along certain edge portions, said checkers being apertured in a direction parallel with said right-angular recesses and each having an extension projecting from a face normal to said right-angular recesses, said checkers being nested together with unrecessed edges of said checkers fitting within the recessed edges of adjacent checkers, the extensions of one course of said checkers fitting within the spaces between checkers of the adjacent course of said checkers, said body members having notches in edges normal to said recesses, said notches in said checkers registering with corresponding notches in the adjacent checkers to provide communication between the spaces between said checkers.

5. In a regenerator structure, in combination, a plurality of courses of checkers, the checkers in each course including body portions disposed in cornerwise relationship with one another to provide open spaces between the checkers in each course, each of said checkers being provided with elongated passageways therethrough normal to said courses, and means for interlocking the checkers of each course with the checkers of the next adjacent course so that said passageways coincide with said spaces, whereby paths for gas or air are provided having in series plenum spaces and elongated passageways of restricted cross-sectional area.

6. In a regenerator structure, in combination, a pluralityof courses of rectangular checkers, the checkers in each course including body portions disposed in cornerwise relationship with one another to provide open spaces between the checkers in each course, each of said checkers being apertured normal to said courses, the checkers being nested in such manner that the apertures of one course coincide with the open spaces of the adjacent courses whereby paths for gas or air are provided having in series plenum spaces and said apertures.

'7. In a regenerator structure, in combination, a plurality of checkers in a plurality of courses, the checkers in each course being interfitted at corner regions whereby to provide a plurality of open spaces between checkers in each course,

each of said checkers having an aperture disposed in a direction normal to said courses, and means for interlocking the checkers of each course with respect to the checkers in the next adjacent course so that said apertures correspond with said spaces in the next adjacent courses, edges of said checkers being notched to provide ports between spaces in adjacent courses.

8. A checker having a body portion having a general shape of a parallelopiped but with certain parallel edge portions thereof relieved, said body portion having boss means extending therefrom, said boss means having portions for positioning .said checker relative to a course of checkers adjacent thereto, said checker being apertured in a direction parallel with said relieved edge portions, a diagonal dimension across said boss being approximately the same as the parallel dimension between the relieved edge portions of said body portion.

9. A checker having a body portion having a general shape of a parallelopiped but with two edge portions thereof recessed, said body portion .having a boss extending therefrom, a diagonal dimension across said boss being approximately the same as the parallel dimension between the recessed edge portions of said body portion, said boss and said body portion being apertured in a direction parallel with said recessed edge portions, said body portion having certain of its edges normal to said recessed edge portions notched intermediate of the length of said edges.

10. In a checker assembly, in .combination, a course of checkers, corner portions only of said checkers being contiguous with adjacent checkers in saidcourse, each of said checkers having an aperture therethrough in a direction normal to said course, and a course of substantially plain parallelepiped checkers disposed upon said firstmentioned course of checkers, said parallelepiped checkers being arranged in basket-weave form' overlapping the edges of the checkers in said first-mentioned course, said plain parallelopiped checkers being disposed in position to providevertical channels corresponding with said apertures in said checkers of said first-mentioned course. 7

11. In a checker assembly, in combination, a plurality of courses of checkers, corner portions only of said checkers being contiguous with adjacent checkers in each course, the checkers in 

